A Michigan couple was killed in two separate accidents between Christmas and New Year's Day, local authorities said.
Scott Levitan, 66, and Mary Lou Levitan, also 66, were both residents of Livonia, a suburb west of Detroit. The incident happened after Scott Levitan fell into a frozen lake on Dec. 26, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
The Michigan resident was ice fishing with his 15-year-old grandson and was drilling holes in the ice on Lake George in Addison Township at the time.
While trying to save his grandfather's life, the boy also fell into the lake, but was later rescued and treated for his injuries.
“The two men were digging a hole on the ice for ice fishing when the ice gave way and the grandfather fell into the icy water,” the sheriff's office said in a statement. “The boy called 911 and tried to get his grandfather out of the water, but the ice broke and he fell into the water.”
Authorities said local residents spotted Levitan and his friends and “immediately grabbed their kayaks” to rescue them.
“[The rescuer] The boy was able to pull himself out of the water and then grabbed a second kayak to help his grandfather,” the sheriff's office said. “The neighbors were unable to remove the grandfather as the ice continued to crack, but they were able to keep his head above water until help arrived.”
The next day, Mary Lou Levitan was fatally injured in a car accident while on her way to retrieve her husband's car, police said. Scott Levitan was on life support at the time.
The sheriff's office said a 19-year-old driver “for unknown reasons” crossed into the northbound lanes of the road in Oakland Township and struck the car Mary Lou Levitan was riding in.
Mary Lou Levitan, who was a passenger in the back seat of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on December 27th. Her husband was taken off life support on December 31st.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard offered his condolences to the Levitans in a statement.
“This is an indescribable tragedy that has befallen this family in a very short period of time,” Bouchard said. “Two unrelated tragic incidents occurred within 24 hours.”
“It's hard to wrap our hands around it. Our prayers are with the family.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
